Stocks edge up amid choppy trading

Stocks edged marginally higher amid choppy trading on Thursday, after previous day’s marginal fall, as investors went for late hours moderate buying. The market moved between positive and negative territory initially, but moderate buying in the last hour helped the market to close marginally higher. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went up by 14.40 points or 0.30 per cent to 8,792.30. The two other indices also closed in positive zone. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, rose 14.35 points or 0.76 per cent to 1,883.91. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) advanced 5.77 points or 0.48 per cent to close at 1,189.86. Turnover remained sluggish and amounted to Tk6.29 billion against previous day’s Tk6.30 billion. The gainers took a modest lead over the losers as out of 314 issues traded, 156 closed higher, 117 lower and 41 remained unchanged on the DSE floor. Lafarge Surma Cement was the day’s top turnover leader with shares of Tk417 million changing hands followed by Square Pharma, Shasha Denim, Beximco Pharma and IDLC Finance. Bangladesh Finance and Investments Company was the day’s best performer, posting a rise of 9.70 per cent while Bangladesh Welding was the day’s worst loser, plunging by 6.43 per cent. The port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also edged marginally higher with its Selective Categories Index – CSCX – gained 51 points to close at 8,972. Gainers took a lead over the losers as out of 248 issues traded, 120 advanced, 95 declined and 33 remained unchanged on the port city bourse. A total of 14.25 million shares and mutual fund units were traded with a value of Tk616 million.

-SRS